Re: Transwarp GS

[mjmahon@aol.com (Michael J. Mahon)]

Bill Garber replied:

>"Michael J. Mahon" <mjmahon@aol.com> wrote in message
>20031217050730.10794.00000607@mb-m24.aol.com">news:20031217050730.10794.00000607@mb-m24.aol.com...
>: Bill Garber wrote:
>:
>: >"John" <twohandsfree@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>: >e639cb5b.0312161712.75cd35c2@posting.google.com">news:e639cb5b.0312161712.75cd35c2@posting.google.com...
>: >: FWIW .....
>: >:
>: >:   For my ZipGS I made it's CPU cable out of an old IDE HD
>cable
>: >and a
>: >: 40 pin insulation dipslacement connector from Jameco -
>nothing
>: >: special, or maybe I was lucky.
>: >:   Of course a Zip is not a Transwarp, but I haven't had any
>Zip
>: >: related problems on this ROM 03 for years. (I try not to
>remove
>: >or
>: >: touch that cable.)
>: >
>: >Thanks, I'll look up that connector. I think
>: >the problem is that I have to reverse the pins
>: >in the 40 pin IDE connector that comes from the
>: >card itself. They may be getting damaged when I
>: >press the cable back in. Probably should get new
>: >ones. Once the wire is pressed between the forks
>: >they can spread open and not make contact
>:
>: I've always had good luck using a vise to clamp the "top" onto
>: the connector while it is seated in a disposable 40-pin socket.
>: I stop compressing _just after_ the top has made good contact
>: with the body of the connector.
>:
>: { SNIP }
>:
>: There are, of course, special tools to compress IDC connectors,
>: with dies for each connector type, but they are a bit pricey
>for
>: occasional use.  ;-)
>
>Thank you Michael, for the explanation of
>how to compress a ribbon cable into an IDC
>conector. However, I was merely stating that
>a used one may have damage to those forks and
>not make good contact with the new section of
>cable once the forks are reversed to allow pin
>1 and 40, etc... on the TWGS to become inverted.

I understand.

Because of the way that IDC connectors work, they are good
for only one installation.  No IDC connector should ever be
removed and re-attached if reliability is a consideration.

If you need to change the direction of attachment, then the
old connector should be cut off cleanly and a new one attached
to fresh, clean cable.

-michael

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